5 Photogenic Power Spots in Kagawa

Kagawa Prefecture, where a mystical atmosphere and breathtaking scenery intersect. It's not just about udon—let's go carve its deep charm into photographs! We introduce five special power spots that will make you want to post on Instagram.

1. Kotohiragu Shrine (Kotohira Town) | The Spectacular Vertical Composition Created by 785 Stone Steps

A famous Sanuki shrine fondly nicknamed "Konpira-san." The composition looking up at the endlessly continuing stone steps is the ultimate angle, capturing both depth and sanctity in a single shot. In the hours when soft morning light streams onto the stone pavement, a dreamlike gradient is born. The trick for shooting is to keep to the side of the steps and look up with a slightly wide angle. The steps are a working route for worshippers, so do not stop in the middle; move to the handrail side to shoot. Right after the gates open (around 6 a.m.), when there are few worshippers, is the golden time. In the autumn foliage season, flaming colors are added for a spectacular shot.

Access: About a 20-minute walk from JR Kotohira Station

2. Tamura Shrine (Takamatsu City) | The Contrast of Vermilion Torii and Greenery Stands Out

Known as the largest shrine in Takamatsu City, Tamura Shrine. The contrast of the vermilion torii gates and the deep green trees lined along the approach is just like Kyoto. The composition capturing the torii in succession like a tunnel is popular on Instagram. The morning hours, when dappled sunlight draws patterns of light on the ground, are especially recommended. In spring, the cherry blossoms in the precincts bloom in full glory, and pale pink and vermilion match exquisitely.

Access: About a 10-minute walk from Kotoden Ichinomiya Station

3. Chichibugahama Beach (Mitoyo City) | Capture a Miracle Shot at Japan's Uyuni Salt Flat

Strictly speaking it is not a shrine, but it is a breathtaking spot worthy of being called a "sacred place." At dusk during low tide, the sky and silhouettes of people reflected on the water surface create a dreamlike world. Shooting is a battle 30 minutes before sunset. With a low angle, lowering your camera to just above the water surface, aim for the "reflection" where sky and ground melt together. Spring to autumn is the best season.

Access: About a 10-minute drive from JR Takuma Station

4. The Alleys of Ko in Honjima (Marugame City) | A Stone-Paved Path Where Time Seems to Have Stopped

The Ko district on Honjima, an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea, is a hidden photogenic spot where stone-paved alleys continuing from the Edo period remain. The scenery of continuous white walls and stone pavement has such an extraordinary feel that when you post it on social media, you'll definitely be asked "where is this?" The soft light of a cloudy day brings out the texture of the stone pavement. Capturing the alley as a single path with a depthwise composition is the photogenic point. The fact that there are few people and you can shoot slowly is also a charm.

Access: About 35 minutes by scheduled ferry from Marugame Port

5. Shiromineji Temple (Sakaide City) | The Mystical, Moss-Covered Space of a Shikoku Sacred Site

The 81st temple of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Sacred Sites. The green world woven by moss-covered stone steps and ancient trees is just like wandering into a Studio Ghibli film. On a morning after rain, the moss glistens, and you can enjoy a dreamlike green gradient. A composition capturing the stone steps at an angle, emphasizing the texture of the moss and the light, is recommended. The fresh-greenery season of early summer boasts beauty at its peak.

Access: About a 20-minute drive from JR Kamogawa Station

Kagawa has places where you can carve both "sanctity" and "beauty" into a single photograph at the same time. It's such a profound prefecture that shows you a new expression each time you visit. By all means, take your camera in hand and head out to search for your very own breathtaking scenery.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Gate opening and viewing hours / closing days: At Kotohiragu Shrine, the Great Gate opens at 6:00 and closes at 18:00, and the doors of the main hall are open from 7:00 to 17:00 (reception for prayers 9:00-16:30). The doors of the inner shrine, Izutama-jinja, and the path leading to it are open from 9:00 to 16:30 (from 7:00 between July 12 and September 30).
• Admission: Visiting the grounds of Kotohiragu Shrine is free of charge. Strolling Chichibugahama Beach and the Kasashima preservation district is also free.
• Access: Kotohiragu Shrine is about a 20-minute walk from JR Kotohira Station. Tamura-jinja Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from Kotoden Ichinomiya Station. Chichibugahama Beach is about 10 minutes by car from JR Takuma Station. Honjima is about 35 minutes by scheduled boat from Marugame Port.
• Parking: There are many private paid parking lots around the approach to Kotohiragu Shrine. If you are crossing to Honjima, the usual approach is to leave your car on the Marugame Port side.
• Etiquette for worshippers: It is 785 steps up to the main hall of Kotohiragu Shrine and 1,368 steps to the inner shrine. Parties and excessive eating and drinking are prohibited, and pets may not be taken inside the shrine buildings. Do not approach the monkeys on the grounds, and never feed them.
• Photography rules: At Kotohiragu Shrine visitors are asked not to take photographs in ways that obstruct other worshippers. Kasashima is a place where people live, so do not point your lens into the grounds or interiors of homes, or at laundry.
• Safety notes: Chichibugahama is a photography spot where the aim is the tidal pools at low tide. Check the tide table, and avoid going alone after dark or driving your car down to the water's edge. The stone steps at Kotohiragu Shrine are slippery in the rain, so wear comfortable shoes and take breaks and plenty of water.

* The traditional townscape on Honjima is in the "Kasashima" district, not "Ko" (it was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government in 1985 (Showa 60)).

(Sources: Kotohiragu Shrine official website / Marugame City official website, "Kasashima Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings")